The Washington Nationals found themselves with their backs against the wall in a do-or-die Game 4 against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night.
Fortunately for them, ace pitcher Max Scherzer was on the mound at Nationals Park and they rode a gem of a performance by their stud to force a decisive game 5 at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night.
Scherzer, one of the favorites for this year’s NL Cy Young Award, pitched seven innings, allowing only one run, four hits, and three walks. He kept one of the league´s best lineups in check, only allowing a first-inning solo home run to Dodgers infielder Justin Turner.
Despite going down early, the Nationals offense woke up in the fifth inning to put the game out of reach. After an Anthony Rendon sacrifice fly had tied the game in the third, he singled in Trea Turner to put the Nats ahead 2-1.
After that, veteran first baseman Ryan Zimmerman smacked a huge three-run home run off of Los Angeles reliever Julio Urias to break the game open and give Washington a 5-1 lead that they would not relinquish.
The decisive Game 5 will return to Los Angeles on Wednesday night, with the two teams facing off for a berth against the Cardinals-Braves winner in the National League Championship Series.
